Bedrocan, the only supplier of medicinal cannabis in the Netherlands, was declared bankrupt on Thursday 8 October, two weeks after asking for a suspension of payments.
The Veendam grower has supplied medicinal cannabis since 2003.
It ran into financial trouble after the Ministry of Public Health ended its contract earlier this year, so it can no longer deliver to the Office of Medicinal Cannabis (BMC), which buys and distributes the product.
Patients and staff
Around 7,000 people in the Netherlands use medicinal cannabis prescribed by a doctor, including people with chronic pain, severe muscle spasms, cancer, MS and epilepsy.
Bedrocan employs about 70 people, and it is unclear whether the company can restart or will be taken over.
It produces five cannabis varieties for the Netherlands and for business clients in Denmark.
Stocks to last until mid-2027
The ministry says there is enough time to find a new supplier, as current stocks should last until around mid-2027.
The government is running a European tender to find a supplier of comparable products.
If you are among the patients who rely on cannabis prescribed by a doctor, it may help to know how pharmacies in Amsterdam work.